[Someone1234]

Surveillance is a useful law enforcement tool.

Traditionally police would have to go to a judge and get a warrant to monitor someone. This was often rubber stamped but it at least gave a paper trail and the police had to have their ducks in a row (e.g. it would be easier to detect if a cop or spook was spying on their ex-wife/ex-husband, since no warrant, no paper trail).

What I don't understand is: Why is getting a warrant now seen as something that is optional/avoidable? Several Western countries (UK, US, and several other european ones) have passed laws designed so that warrants can be avoided in certain cases (and none of those cases are "immediate threat to life").

Mass surveillance is taking that to a whole different level: Now nobody needs a warrant for anyone. They're only limited by internal rules. And we already know that spooks often utilise this to spy on their friends/family/love interests.

So, no, my opinion hasn't changed. Police surveillance with a warrant from a judge is still ok. Targeted surveillance via spooks with a warrant is also ok. Untargeted surveillance and or no warrant remains unacceptable even after the Paris attacks.